Er Hem Raj Phonsa
Guru Ravi Dass was born to Shri Raghu & Shrimati Mata Karma Devi of Chamar caste at Mandiva Thein, now called Goverdhan Pura near Banaras. Some scholars give the names of his parents as Santosh Dass & Shrimati Mata Kalsi Devi . Guru Ravi Dass lived an exalted `life span of 126 years & left his mortal frame in 1540 AD to join back into the supreme ocean of Bliss or the Creator of Universe.
Guru Ravi Dass was born at a time when the orthodox and superstitious Hindu and Muslim priests had adopted rituals, exterior body decorations, scarifying animals, visiting different places, bathing in different rivers, recitations of their Holy religious books etc. as sole methods of salvation from the circle of birth and death. Hindus had closed all their places of worships (temples ), schools, entry into Government services or honorable private services for Sudras ,instead they assigned to them most dirtiest duties for the Brahmans , Khatriyas & Vaishayas as per Rules framed by Manu All decent living were ruled out for them. Keeping richness of Guru Ravi Dass’s verses in view, 40 of them were incorporated into Sri Guru Granth Sahib by Guru Arjun Dev ji,
Guru Ravi Dass denounced caste system which is based on un-natural laws and upheld virtue by saying ;
“If a Brahmin is virtue less, Offer him no worship’O ‘Ravi Dass,
Worship instead the feet of a Chandal, If he is Found full of virtue.”
Guru Rravidas further said “If thou are born to Brahmin (Superior by birth ) mother , why you have not born through a different route .”
Guru Ravi Dass advised the rulers to provide equal & decent means of livelihood to all their subjects & he said, “I want kingdoms where every one is well-fed, And all should live in harmony, Ravi Dass is happy only then”.
Guru Ravi Dass preached the rule of Almighty, that He has created everybody equal and there cannot be any difference between persons of different castes. He said, “Ask not caste “o” Ravi Dass, What is there in clan or caste? Brahman, Kshatriya, Vaish, or Shudra, All belong to the same caste”
Ravi Dass came to this world to preach true message of God realization, Love & devotion to Lord, through loving His creations he didn’t denounce other religions but dogmas & rituals. Guru RaviDass said,
“Those who are not dyed internally in love, But merely make an outer display, They will go to the world of death, Truly doth Ravi Dass state”.
Sri Guru Ravidas, preached that God realization can only be through worship of true saint, not through persons who preach dogmas, animal sacrifice, roaming in jungles ,observing austerities, etc. He said those who are not dyed internally in love, but merely make an outer display shall not find peace after death. God becomes accessible only when He takes human form and comes to the level of human in this world, as idols are lifeless, the animals and birds cannot communicate with us, so a living Saint or Master can only guide us This human form of pure spirit is called Guru by the saints. So Guru is God incarnation. Sain Bulleh Shah Said “God (Molla ) has taken the form of man (Guru)” Sat Guru Kabir Said “Worship thou the true worshiper of the Lord .”
Guru Ravi Dass Said “God, Guru and Saint, Are the same in consciousness.” Among guru Ravidas’s disciples were Meerabai, Raja Peepa, Rana Sanga and many more. Guru Ravidas is said to have three meetings with Guru Nanak.
Guru Ravidas advised his disciples to lead a clean life, refrain from animal killing for eating or scarifying before gods & Goddesses, never take wine or any other intoxicants. Guru Ravi Dass said,
“Those who eat meat, they in fact cut their own throat, For whosoever is meat eater, he will have to go to hell “sayeth Ravi Dass.” He further said, Guru Ravi Dass spread the message of love for all, devotion to Lord, universal brotherhood, honest earning for livelihood & to discard all that does not help in God realization.
Jyotirao Phule got his right hand incapacitated in an illness, so he stated writing with his left hand and wrote a book titled as ” Sarivjanik Satya Dharam, ” After ceaselessly working for over 63 years Jyotirao Phule passed away on 28 th November 1890 about 138 days before the birth of Dr. BR Ambedkar another luminary, Father of free India’s Constitution , who too worked lifelong for the emancipation of Dalits , depressed, weak and women Jyotirao Phule shall be remembered for the centuries to come for the good work he did for the Dalits and Depressed peoples of society.
Gadje Maharaj
A great social and religious reformer of 19th century was born on 23 rd February 1879 in the village Ron of Maharastra, to respected Sh. Singraji Janorkar and Mata Shrimati Sukhbai of Preet caste, a watermen’s community. He was married in childhood to Shrimati Kunnabai and both parented one girl child. Dabuji was his childhood name. Once Dabuji dared to take meals in a community function along with his community persons in the same row where upper caste Hindus were taking meals, but he was turned out. This incident made unforgettable dent on his tender mind, so in later years he opposed caste System with all his might. He used to say that there are only two castes created by God namely man andwoman. We are all human and Dalits or untouchables have nothing different than upper Caste Hindus. The superiority claims of upper Caste Hindus is nothing more than cheating and deception .He advised all to take lessons from the Sun, the Fire, the Trees the Animals, the Birds , the mother Earth , who provide equal services to all irrespective of caste, creed, sex , religion or place of birth of a person. He always wore rags and carried a Garwa (Water pot with a curved short, spout ) ,so he was called as Gadge Ji Maharaj . He said, “God realization is not in observing fasts, worshiping idols, undertaking long journeys to identified religious places,, listening to religious sermons but in service to humanity, particularly those who are poor, deprived , sick and needy .” he preached not to slaughter animals to please gods and goddesses, do not waste money on pilgrims , do not drink wine , but serve your parents and poors well, do not indulge in untouchability , do not be under the inferioratiality complex , cut your expenditure on marriage functions and do not take or offer dowry. He decried / cursed those who took the services of animals like cows, goats, horses, donkeys, buffalos etc during their youth but did not care them in their old age.
When Dr. BR Ambedkar, the then Law Minister of Indian Union met Gadge Ji , Gadge Ji advised his Visitor to leave the Hindu religion, which is resistant to reforms, but also not to embrace Christianity or Islam. Dr Ambedkar followed advice of Gadge Ji and converted to Buddhism in 1956. Gadge Ji passed away On 9 th December 1956.
This saint shall be remembered as a great emancipator and true guide of Dalits, who preached them to Live with dignity.
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